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Report: Jaguar working on mid-engined flagship

Report: Jaguar working on mid-engined flagship

Kenneth Hall January 14th, 2009 Kenneth Hall By Kenneth Hall Author January 14th, 2009
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December 31st, 1969 Jaguar has just unveiled two of the fastest cars in its history, with the new 2010 XFR saloon and 2010 XKR sports coupe and cabrio making their respective debuts at this week’s Detroit Auto Show, however, according to latest reports the company is working on an even faster, mid-engined supercar. The new flagship will reportedly make its debut in around 12 month’s time and is being designed to take on the likes of the Audi R8 and upcoming Mercedes Benz SLC Gullwing. This isn’t the new light-weight sports car that has been reported on for several months. The new Jaguar flagship is tipped to be called the XE, a name the company recently filed as a trademark in the UK. The first hint that such a car could be in the works came from Jaguar’s managing director Mike O’Driscoll, who told AutoExpress that the “XK is the car that began a revolution for us, but it’s not the end of the story. I firmly believe the best car we could build to compliment this is a flagship coupe.” The new XE is claimed to be an evolution of the R-Coupe concept from 2001. It will borrow components from the current XK but it will be the first mid-engined Jaguar since the stunning XJ220 was launched more than 18 years ago. Power is expected to come from the recently introduced twin Roots-type supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III 5.0L V8 engine, but should be somewhat about the 510hp (380kW) found in the XKR and XFR.
The new flagship is expected to be an extension of the R-Coupe concept first revealed in 2001

The new flagship is expected to be an extension of the R-Coupe concept first revealed in 2001

Enlarge Photo

Jaguar has just unveiled two of the fastest cars in its history, with the new 2010 XFR saloon and 2010 XKR sports coupe and cabrio making their respective debuts at this week’s Detroit Auto Show, however, according to latest reports the company is working on an even faster, mid-engined supercar. The new flagship will reportedly make its debut in around 12 month’s time and is being designed to take on the likes of the Audi R8 and upcoming Mercedes Benz SLC Gullwing.

This isn’t the new light-weight sports car that has been reported on for several months. The new Jaguar flagship is tipped to be called the XE, a name the company recently filed as a trademark in the UK.

The first hint that such a car could be in the works came from Jaguar’s managing director Mike O’Driscoll, who told AutoExpress that the “XK is the car that began a revolution for us, but it’s not the end of the story. I firmly believe the best car we could build to compliment this is a flagship coupe.”

The new XE is claimed to be an evolution of the R-Coupe concept from 2001. It will borrow components from the current XK but it will be the first mid-engined Jaguar since the stunning XJ220 was launched more than 18 years ago.

Power is expected to come from the recently introduced twin Roots-type supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III 5.0L V8 engine, but should be somewhat about the 510hp (380kW) found in the XKR and XFR.

Tags: Supercars, V8

Posted in: Jaguar, News


Comments (15 total)

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  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar by NoNameDenton #1, Posted: 1/15/2009

    Hope it looks better then that

  2. ma_Roy avatar by Roy #2, Posted: 1/15/2009

    That's Jaguar's old design "language." The concept in the picture isn't obviously mid-engined and is from 2001. I'm pleasantly surprised they're not going to produce a 'four-door coupe'. Don't get me wrong; I like four-door coupes, but this model sounds much more exciting.

  3. ma_Edward avatar by Edward #3, Posted: 1/15/2009

    Whatever that language is, let's see the specific designs that Callum has come up with. That design is a Geoff Lawson work. Callum who has never done anything for Jaguar is the reason why the banks in the UK are unwilling to lend to Jag LR. In times like these, the lenders want to see specific business plans, which Tata does not have for Jag LR.

  4. ma_burke avatar by burke #4, Posted: 1/15/2009

    The model shown doesn't look mid-engined to me. But comming from Jaguar, I am positive that a mid engine Jag is going to look good. Right now Jaguar doesn't have any model that can actually compete to the Audi R8. If you want to take a better look at the future mid engine Jaguar go to www.autoevolution.com

  5. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar by www.mywheelsonwalls.com #5, Posted: 1/15/2009

    Hey Burke the article clearly states the new concept will be revealed in 12 months also did you read the caption under the picture? Its a picture of the R Coup concept from 2001!!

    Any way, its good to see that now Billy Boy the Socialist is gone Jaguars employees can now be who they were all along and thats creative, passionate and generally in love their brand.....

  6. ma_hidalgo911 avatar by hidalgo911 #6, Posted: 1/15/2009

    okay really this doesnt look like a car that can have that title . jag really needs to get ont that before they keep there "fastest car" in the dealerships

  7. ma_WizardsLore avatar by WizardsLore #7, Posted: 1/15/2009

    you need to realise that the design of the car is based on the S-Type Jag. hence the big facia. The new one will be agressive and nothing like this.

  8. ma_azlan avatar by azlan #8, Posted: 1/15/2009

    jag need to bring back the xj220! tat will ut them back in the game that car was crazy, it was every kids dream list.

  9. ma_SuperSkyline89 avatar by SuperSkyline89 #9, Posted: 1/15/2009

    The XJ220 on every kids dream list? I've never heard a single kid ever talk about the XJ220, most of my friends even now probably don't even know that Jaguar ever made such a car.

  10. ma_azlan avatar by azlan #10, Posted: 1/16/2009

    this is an american site isnt it??? thats why... vettes and mustangs and vipers are american kids cars... well when i was younger and everyone i knew wanted an xj220.. sorry that were not all american.

  11. ma_SuperSkyline89 avatar by SuperSkyline89 #11, Posted: 1/16/2009

    I'm not American, I'm Canadian.

    And no, Corvettes, Mustangs, and Vipers are not dreams cars around here (or at least not very often); for the most part Ferrari's and Lamborghini's are dream cars here, because they're famous and everyone knows them, even the little 4 or 5 year old kids.

  12. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar by www.mywheelsonwalls.com #12, Posted: 1/16/2009

    Well Super Skyline Jagaurs are famous too. They've even won Le Mans more times than Ferrari too! I remember when the XJ220 launched and it really turned the super car world on its side also for Jaguar fans it bought back memories of XJ13. Although that car is way beyond your automotive knowledge Skyline.....

    I'll think you'll find because the XJ200 was not offered in the North American market it nevered really registered in any kids mind or adult mind for that matter.

  13. ma_SuperSkyline89 avatar by SuperSkyline89 #13, Posted: 1/16/2009

    People who don't follow racing still have dream cars, there are more people out there who don't watch racing than those who do, and they have dream cars. They don't know or care who can win more races, no little kid gives a damn that Ferrari rules F1, they just like the cars. Ferrari (and similar manufacturers like Lamborghini) are famous through model cars, racing games, and car magazines and books; things that people see all over the place.

    And as far as the Jaguar XJ13 goes, I'm sorry I was born in 1989 and don't know about cars made in the 60's. Really, I'm so sorry, because of course I asked to be born when I was didn't I. God forbid someone who doesn't know everything about cars the same age as their parents should visit this website.

  14. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar by www.mywheelsonwalls.com #14, Posted: 1/16/2009

    Skyline its not your date of birth I hold against you its your complete lack of ambition to learn about something your passionate about. The fact that you post negative coments about subject(s) you dont particually care about is frustrating, honestly....

    I also find it ironic that the car name you post under has its humble beginnings planted firmly in the 1960's, all be it late 1960's. If reading books escapes you have tried Google!!!

  15. ma_azlan avatar by azlan #15, Posted: 1/19/2009

    super skyline.. i said for me and the people i hang out with we all knew the xj220, i did not say anything personal to you i did not say you personally dreamed about those american cars i just meant in general american kids did. i hung out with a different sort of people and i was not making a generalisation toward the xj220.

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